Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Johnnie Walker speaks to Roy Harper, a troubadour from the golden age of British folk-rock, and celebrates the music of a colourful and eclectic decade.

Johnnie Walker speaks to Roy Harper, a troubadour from the golden age of British folk-rock, and celebrates the music of a colourful and eclectic decade.

Roy Harper is hailed as a hero from Kate Bush to David Gilmour and Led Zeppelin's tribute came in the form of their track Hats Off To (Roy) Harper on Led Zeppelin III.

The 70s was a prolific decade for Roy, during which he releasing six studio albums including the critically acclaimed four-song epic Stormcock and 1977's Bullinamingvase. The latter included his hit Watford Gap which angered the owners of the service station for his criticism of the food. Roy also remembers his memorable vocal on Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here album.

Roy's story is also remarkable because he lived under a death sentence for a little-known lung condition that was diagnosed in 1972. Despite a terminal diagnosis, Harper has continued to fight the condition and is still writing and performing nearly 40 years later.

Also on the show, Johnnie hears from Yes guitarist Steve Howe about the prog-rock band's divisive hit album, Tales From Topographic Oceans, that went to Number One in 1974.

2 hours

Last on

Sun 30 Oct 2011 15:00
大象传媒 Radio 2

More episodes

Previous

23/10/2011

Next

You Make Me Feel Brand New: Johnnie Chats To The Stylistics

See all episodes from Sounds of the 70s with Bob Harris

Music Played

  • Hour 1

    • Billy Ocean

      Love really hurts without you

  • Elvis Presley - Suspicious Minds

  • Thin Lizzy

    Whisky in the jar

  • The Who

    Baba O Reilly

  • Labelle

    Lady Marmalade

  • Featured Album: Tales from Topographic Oceans - Yes

    • Yes

      The Revealing Science of God (Dance of the Dawn)

  • King Harvest

    Dancing in the Moonlight

  • Showaddywaddy

    Heartbeat

  • My70s: Roy Harper - Part 1

    • Roy Harper

      Hors D'Oeuvres

  • Roy Harper

    One Of Those Days In England

  • Bob Marley - No Woman No Cry

  • Jeff Wayne

    Forever Autumn (feat. Justin Hayward)

  • Hour 2

    • Carole King

      I Feel The Earth Move

  • The Supremes

    I Second That Emotion

  • Rainbow

    All Night Long

  • Featured Album: Tales from Topographic Oceans - Yes

    • Yes

      The Remembering (High The Memory)

  • The Chi鈥怢ites

    Too Good To Be Forgotten

  • Chic

    Le Freak

  • My70s: Roy Harper Part2

    • Led Zeppelin

      Hats Off To (Roy) Harper

  • Manassas

    Isn't It About Time

  • Pink Floyd

    Have A Cigar

  • Queen

    We Are The Champions

  • Neil Diamond

    I Am I Said

  • Featured Album: Tales from Topographic Oceans - Yes

    • Yes

      Ritual (Nous Sommes Du Soleil)

  • Lene Lovich

    Lucky Number

Broadcast

  • Sun 30 Oct 2011 15:00
    大象传媒 Radio 2